A washer and a dryer are among the hardest-working appliances on a home circuit. An electric dryer in particular draws a heavy, steady load. A cord or outlet that is not up to it can overheat with little warning.
What to Avoid
- Extension cords and power strips for either machine.
- Adapters that let a dryer plug fit a different outlet.
- Sharing an outlet or circuit between the washer and other heavy loads such as a space heater.
- Cords pinched behind or under the machine.
Signs of Trouble at the Plug
- The plug or outlet is warm or hot to the touch.
- You see discoloration, scorch marks or melted plastic.
- The plug is loose in the outlet.
- A breaker trips repeatedly when the machine runs.
What Is Ours and What Is an Electrician’s
We test the appliance, its cord and its plug. A worn outlet, a loose wall connection or a breaker that is the wrong size for the circuit is an electrician’s job, and we tell you if that is what we find.
Check the Dryer Cord After a Move
Three-wire and four-wire dryer cords do not fit every wall outlet. If you move a dryer to a new house, check what the outlet is before plugging in.
If You See Scorching
Stop using the machine, switch off the breaker and leave it off until it is checked.
Washers are grounded appliances, and a missing ground pin or a two-prong adapter takes away protection if water ever reaches the wiring. Use a proper grounded outlet. Tripped breakers are a message, not a nuisance, so do not just reset one again and again.
Maytag dryer repair includes checking the cord, plug and the machine’s power draw. Describe the outlet and the cord when you book.